See you at the Games!

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Managing Editor ANTONIETA B. LOPEZ Business Editor ODETTE MONTELIBANO Desk Editor MARY ANN BARCELONA Advertising Coordinator RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete

ANDRES R. LEONARDIA Managing Director

The Bacolod City portion of the Southeast Asian Games being hosted this year by the Philippines has began in earnest. The football games staged at the Bacolod City Sports Stadium and the Panaad Park and Stadium have drawn large crowds of sports-loving Bacoleños and Negrenses, and even visitors from other provinces and cities.

Among those watching the games are ranking officials of participating countries and even members of royalty whose teams are playing in our city. And it is very heartening to see that local sports enthusiasts not only watch the games for entertainment, but also root enthusiastically for the players, even for those from other countries.

Bacolod is very fortunate to have been chosen the playing venue for some of the most popular events in the meet. Football, for instance, is one of the most popular if not, by now, the most popular sport worldwide. And it seems the Philippines, identified as it has been for a long time with basketball, is also getting the hang of it and, if we may say so, is now considered one of the contenders for the championship in it.

But, as we have repeatedly mentioned in this paper, it is not so much the winning that should be paramount in this hosting of the SEAG. The opportunity to meet, make friends, joust in friendly competition with our Asian neighbors is something that is the most valuable product of this gathering. The prestige, the exposure and the development of closer ties with them - these are bonuses that we should appreciate and cultivate.

Organizers have done all they can to make the games accessible to everyone. Gate prices have been cut down, and, to further encourage spectators to take time out to watch, the Bacolod City government has offered free transportation to the games being held at the Panaad Park, which is a bit far from the city center. The rides are open to everybody.

So let us support this activity, not only with our customary smiles and hospitality, let us treat ourselves to the pleasures of watching Asia's best athletes who may, who knows, turn out to be among the world's best later. See you at the SEAGames!*